Our Story

The Aquabus been serving False Creek and the surrounding area since its inception in June of 1985 by owners Jeff and Margot Pratt. Originally operating with only one boat, the service quickly took off and expanded to include three more of the now-iconic Jay Benford-designed rainbow boats by the time EXPO 86 arrived in town. Our boats were essential during this time to connect visitors to the various sights and attractions of the World’s Fair, and we only got busier and busier as the banks of False Creek developed from largely industrial areas into the metropolitan hubs that they are today. In 1995, we introduced our first Cyquabus – a boat able to carry bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs – which drastically expanded the scope of the company and allowed for a more integrated, multimodal, and accessible transportation experience.

With each passing year our ridership has grown, and we have grown with it, expanding to our current fleet of 14 vessels – 8 of which are cyquabusses – and becoming an essential adventure for tourists and commuters alike. We have remained closely connected to the small business community of Vancouver and are proud to have been family owned and operated for over 30 years, as Jeff and Margot have passed the torch to their son and current General Manager, Jake Pratt. We look forward to many more years of serving Vancouver as one of its most colourful and beloved modes of transportation!

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Hello everyone,
We wanted to touch base and give an update as to what our plan is for reopening the doors of Aquabus Ferries. We are carefully watching how commuter traffic is evolving among other public transportation entities. It is encouraging to note that by this time the general public has largely become inured to social distancing and are gratified that Vancouverites play the game as well as anyone. Hence, we think a ’soft’ opening can be accomplished while maintaining social responsibility.
The following is an outline of steps we are taking to mitigate the risk to both our customers and our employees:
· Limited service will be completed utilizing only our larger, 20-30 seat Cyquabus’.
· Available seating will be reduced by 80%, for a maximum of 6 passenger per vessel, which will allow for on board distancing.
· The vessels will be disinfected every hour at a minimum.
· Passengers will be provided with hand sanitizer and asked to sanitize their hands before entering the vessel.
· We will continue to follow the stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols in place.
· We will offer card payment, recommending the use of the tap option whenever possible.
· Visual markers are placed on our docks to encourage social distancing in the event of a lineup.
Mandatory for returning staff:
All returning staff will be supplied with, and required to wear, gloves and masks when operating the vessels.
Operators will be instructed to disinfect their vessel hourly at a minimum.
Operators will ensure that passengers maintain a 6ft distance while onboard the vessel.
Operators will themselves practice safe social distancing by keeping a 6ft distance between staff and passengers whenever possible.

Hours of Operation: 8:30am – 5:30pm

We will provide further direction and protocols to employees and customers as the circumstances evolve. The safety and well-being of our employees is of paramount importance to us and we are excited to see our riders - safely- on the vessels again.
Thank you all for your continued patience and understanding.